Creating decorative looks with tiles

If anybody knows how to enjoy the outdoors, it’s the Mediterraneans.Just saying the word conjures up images of bronzed skin, sun-faded terraces, olive groves, and sun-speckled ocean views.Luckily, with our long, hot summers, mild winters and limited rainfall, we have a similar climate to the Med – so we don’t have to spend a fortune to get there, in order to enjoy a bit of the lifestyle.If you love outdoor cooking and entertaining friends and family, take inspiration from the gardens of Greece, Italy, Spain and Morocco for an outdoor space you’ll never want to leave.Here are a few ideas to help you design your very own Mediterranean hideaway:

Seating is non-negotiable

When you think of the Mediterranean lifestyle, the image that invariably pops into your mind is dappled light streaming through the trees and landing on a long, family-style table, groaning under the weight of a thousand fruit platters.A Mediterranean garden is designed with outdoor living in mind – a practical and usable space rather than the kind of overly formal, museum-like gardens of Britain. A tiled area is the perfect setting for an outdoor feature table, and going for tiles with soft browns and terracotta shades will do wonders for a Spanish-Moroccan look. If you don’t have a covered patio to work with, it’s a good idea to make sure that there are mature trees, arbours, or umbrellas to provide shade and keep your guests celebrating throughout the hazy summer afternoons.

A Splash of Blue

With the glistening Mediterranean Sea to inspire them, it’s no surprise that houses in Spain, Greece and Morocco are peppered with shades of brilliant blue, used in a thousand different ways both indoor and out. For a quick and easy way to emulate this vibe, consider bringing some blue touches to your outdoor area, whether you go all out with a bright blue, feature wall, or just a few accents like Moroccan-style tiles, window shutters, and soft furnishing such as scatter cushions. Blue is a classic accompaniment to white (just take a peek at any postcard from Greece’s Cycladic islands), as well as gentle reds, browns and pinks of terracotta and the Moorish-influenced pottery found so often in Spain and Morocco.

Gardening for Fragrance and Flavour

No Mediterranean garden is devoted exclusively to ornamental plants.Wherever in the Med you go, plants are grown for culinary use as well as fragrance, so it’s more common to find fruit trees and herbs than roses.Rosemary and lavender make excellent border plants and low hedges, filling the air with their aroma every time you brush past them.Herbs like oregano, basil, mint, parsley and rocket will never go to waste in a Mediterranean kitchen.Try a motley assortment of different planters for an authentic look, and as a way of brightening up your paved spaces.If you need something a little larger, fig, lemon and olive trees can all reach impressive sizes – and are about as authentically Mediterranean as you can get.

If you’re a true voyager at heart, your wanderlust can never truly be quenched.But if a few weeks off work and a pricey plane ticket really aren’t in the budget, you can create your own little bit of paradise with just a few simple décor tweaks, and embark on a backyard odyssey whenever you like.As author and fanatical lover of all things Mediterranean, Marcel Proust, once so famously said: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

5 Ways to make your bedroom more romantic

In today’s frantic world, we’re often too tired, too distracted or too wound up to find room for intimacy in our lives. Relationships are suffering due to the invasion of television, laptops and smartphones in our living spaces, and we think it’s time we fought back! Ban the mood-killers from the bedroom and consider some of these great décor ideas for rekindling the romance and passion in your relationship!

1. Don’t skimp on the soft furnishings

Feeling romantic is all about feeling pampered, and nothing says luxury like beautiful soft furnishings. Curtains should be thick and substantial, coming all the way down to the floor for an added sense of richness. Scatter cushions, rugs and throws should be of a variety of rich fabrics, from wool to velvet to chenille, and be irresistibly inviting to the touch.

2. A bathroom to swoon over

An ordinary bathroom is a functional space that most people would rather keep hidden from sight. An extraordinary bathroom is a place to be proud of, a pleasure to use, and adds romance and intimacy to the environment. Underfloor heating, exquisite tiles, a huge bathtub, the finest taps and fittings, mood lighting, fragrances – the possibilities are endless (though sadly, budgets are not). With the right approach to bathroom décor, the bathroom can be every bit as intimate and romantic as the bedroom itself.

3. It’s NOT just a bed

If you’re like most people, you spend at least six to eight hours of every day in your bed. Doesn’t it make sense to make it the best it can be? A high quality, comfortable mattress is unbeatable when you’re trying to set the mood, and variations such as a beautiful headboard or even a four-poster bed add a touch of antique romantic glamour. And don’t forget the bedding either! Invest in a goose-down duvet and quality pillows and buy yourself some quality, breathable cotton bedding.

4. Mood lighting

Lighting is an absolute must when trying to create a romantic ambience. Candles are an absolute winner for setting the mood, though not always practical to rely on for good illumination. Recessed lighting and beautiful lamps add a warm glow without overwhelming the eye, and a dimmer switch is a huge plus. Consider using slightly weaker light bulbs in the bedroom, and those with a yellow glow rather than stark white. This will add a sense of warmth, romance and intimacy.

5. Uncommon scents

We’re not talking about those plastic plug-ins that spray air freshener into your room every ten minutes. The scents your bedroom craves are to be found in a slightly more sophisticated guise. From oil burners and scent diffusers to linen sprays and scented candles, fragrance is a vital part of the sensual experience. Consider fragrances like rose, tuberose or jasmine, or vanilla, sandalwood and cedar wood for those who prefer a less floral scent.

Just a few simple changes and tweaks is all you need to turn a boring old bedroom into a luxurious boudoir that is sure to spark the passion. Forget the rose petals – try these ideas for a bedroom with year-round romance!